In this episode of 'Saying Yes Again,' Dr. Lisa and Tony explore the challenges faced by strong women in love and relationships. They discuss the concept of the 'soft life' as a counter to hustle culture, emphasizing the importance of emotional ease, vulnerability, and choosing peace. The conversation delves into practical steps for embracing a softer life, the significance of connection in modern dating, and the upcoming event aimed at fostering meaningful relationships among singles over 40.

Takeaways

• Strong women often feel the burden of carrying everything in relationships.
• The 'soft life' represents a shift from hustle culture to emotional ease.
• Choosing peace in relationships is a powerful decision.
• Peace in love means mutual effort and feeling safe.
• Conflict resolution is essential for healthy relationships.
• Women are allowed to rest and receive support from partners.
• Softness in women makes them more approachable, not less powerful.
• Emotional maturity and boundaries are crucial for a soft life.
• Real connections are built through intentional conversations.
• Dating should focus on emotional honesty and stability.

In this episode of Saying Yes Again, we explore the challenges high-achieving women face in the dating world, discussing loneliness, emotional safety, and the invisible load they carry. We delve deep into the identity conflicts that arise when transitioning from professional success to personal relationships, emphasizing the need for vulnerability and communication. Also, highlighting the importance of building supportive partnerships that allow women to thrive without compromising their accomplishments.

Chapters

00:00 Navigating Success and Loneliness
03:20 The Choice of Solitude
06:19 Men's Perspectives on High Achieving Women
08:57 The Invisible Load of Professional Women
11:59 Identity Conflict in Relationships
14:37 Thriving in Love Without Shrinking
20:09 Building Safe and Supportive Relationships
26:00 Creating a Community for Love

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In episode 18 of "Saying Yes Again," Dr. Lisa and Tony record their first uncut, unscripted conversation about dating and relationships in midlife. They discuss the challenges of a small dating pool for women, ways people meet potential partners, and the importance of honesty about intentions. Sharing their own journey from divorce to love, they emphasize the importance of healing, growth, and staying open to second chances.

The episode also encouraging listeners to embrace new opportunities for connection and reminding everyone that it's never too late to say yes again.

Timestamps by PodSqueezeIntroduction and Episode Format (00:00:01)
Hosts introduce themselves, the podcast, and announce this will be an uncut, raw episode.

Episode Milestone and Uncut Decision (00:00:42)
Celebrating the 18th episode and discussing the decision to record an uncut, spontaneous session.

Topics Overview (00:02:35)
Preview of main topics: dating pool for women, reasons people avoid relationships in midlife, and why most don't remarry.

The Midlife Dating Pool (00:03:28)
Discussion about the challenges women face in the midlife dating pool and why it feels small and difficult.

Ways People Meet Partners (00:04:29)
Exploring traditional and modern ways people meet: friends, events, weddings, professional functions, clubs, and online dating.

Online Dating Experiences (00:07:14)
Personal stories about online dating, including how the hosts met and advice for not giving up on dating apps.

Commitment and Biological Clocks (00:08:22)
How age, life stage, and biological factors influence relationship decisions for men and women in midlife.

Commitment Hesitancy in Midlife (00:09:34)
Why some men in midlife are hesitant to commit, and how personal experiences and age impact their choices.

Honesty and Transparency in Dating (00:10:54)
Importance of being upfront about intentions in relationships to avoid leading others on.

Personal Growth and Readiness (00:13:29)
How healing and personal growth after divorce affect openness to new relationships and marriage.

Why Most Don't Remarry (00:14:10)
Exploring reasons people avoid a second marriage, including fear of repeating past pain and emotional bruises.

Life Partner vs. Marriage (00:16:20)
Discussion about preferring a life partner over marriage and how openness can evolve.

Advice for Men: Earning Commitment (00:17:58)
Advice for men to be consistent and show quality to move from "life partner" to "I do."

Personal Transformation and Hope (00:18:36)
How personal transformation after divorce led to a happier, more fulfilling relationship.

Are People Really Looking for Love in Midlife? (00:21:40)
Hosts discuss whether people in midlife are truly seeking love and the importance of openness and healing.

Encouragement to Try Online Dating (00:22:00)
Tony shares how encouragement from a friend led him to try online dating, resulting in meeting Lisa.